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REVOLUTIONS TRAILER ONLINE
Source: <TheMatrix.com>

The official site launched the international Revolutions trailer, has some info on printed comics that appeared earlier on the site and posted new interviews with directors and artist of the Animatrix. They have some hidden material too, but try to figure that out yourself... To watch the trailer visit the <trailers> section or <TheMatrix.com>:

Today sees the official launch of the International trailer for THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS.

We also present the online disclosure of the forthcoming collection of Matrix comics, coming to a store near you this October. 160 pages, 12 stories. The official announcement was at this year's San Diego comic book convention, where we gave out thousands of 20 page preview books, featuring Paul Chadwick's third story, A MILLER'S TALE. Click <here> for more. Or <here> for the downloadable PDF preview.

Check out new Animatrix interviews with the Directors and artists here. They include:

- Mike Arias Animatrix Producer talking about KID'S STORY
- Shinji Hashimoto Key Animator: A DETECTIVE STORY, Character Design & Animation Director: KID'S STORY
- Yusuke Hirota Animatrix Computer Graphics: BEYOND
- Yoshiaki Kawajiri Writer / Director: PROGRAM, Writer: WORLD RECORD
- Takeshi Koike Director: WORLD RECORD
- Mahiro Maeda Director: THE SECOND RENAISSANCE: 1 & 2
- Yukata Minowa Animation Director & Character Design: PROGRAM
- Koji Morimoto Director: BEYOND
- Hiroshi Murikami Computer Graphics Director: KID'S STORY
- Akiko Saito Computer Graphics Supervisor: A DETECTIVE STORY
- Shinichiro Watanabe Director: KID'S STORY & A DETECTIVE STORY

It has begun.

For the rest (including Revolutions photos and hints to hidden material), visit the official site <here>.


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OSCAR'S DOUBLE-TROUBLE
Source: <Yahoo>
Thanks to: <TLFC>

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - When it comes to Oscar consideration, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences isn't entertaining any two-for-one offers.

The issue arises because this year there will be two "Matrix" movies and, possibly, two "Kill Bill" movies that could all qualify for Academy consideration. And that has left their respective studios, Warner Bros. Pictures and Miramax Films, strategizing over how to optimize their Oscar chances - even though the 2004 Oscar ceremonies won't take place until Feb. 29.

The situation is considered unprecedented by Academy officials. Several movies have been carved out of material that was shot back to back: 1973's "The Three Musketeers" was followed in 1974 by "The Four Musketeers"; "Back to the Future Part II" came out in 1989, followed by "Back to the Future Part III" in 1990; and "The Lord of the Rings" series, which began with "The Fellowship of the Ring" in 2001 will conclude with "The Return of the King" this year. But in those cases, the individual parts of each mega-movie were released in different years, so there was no possibility that the pieces of one whole would compete directly against each other.

This year, though, boasts "The Matrix Reloaded," the second film in the Wachowski brothers' "Matrix" series, released May 15, which will be followed by the series finale, "The Matrix Revolutions," on Nov. 5.

In the case of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill," Miramax has decided to divide the material into two films and will release "Kill Bill Vol. 1" on Oct. 10. The company has not yet announced when it will release "Kill Bill Vol. 2. While most observers expect it won't arrive until 2004, there have been some discussions within Miramax of an Oscar qualifying weeklong run by the end of the year.

The discussions have included the possibility of a qualifying run for "Vol 2." by itself as well as reconnecting "Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2" for an Oscar qualifying run as one movie. But if "Vol. 2," in some form were to play Los Angeles by Dec. 31, the Oscar cut-off date, Miramax would then find itself facing the same quandary as Warners.

Since the two "Matrix" movies were shot within a continuous 240-day period by the same filmmaking team, Warners considered advancing the argument that the Academy should consider them as one movie - albeit one containing a six-month intermission. But according to sources on both sides of the discussions, that possibility was never seriously raised in recent conversations between Warners and the Academy.

According to Academy executive administrator Ric Robertson, "Two separate releases with two separate marketing campaigns - even if they were four-walled together as one movie - would have to be considered two different films."

So instead, Warners raised a separate question: Even though both movies will have completed the basic requirement for Academy consideration by having been publicly exhibited in Los Angeles county for one week, would it be permissible for the studio to qualify only one film for Oscar consideration?

After reviewing its own requirements, the Academy informed the studio there was nothing in the rule book to prevent the studio from submitting one of the films and not the other. As a result, Warners is currently contemplating submitting only "Matrix Revolutions" for Oscar consideration.

That particular Hobson's choice, according to those close to the situation, may be born of strategic necessity.

The first "Matrix," released in 1999, was nominated - and went on to win - Oscars in four categories: editing, sound, sound effects editing and visual effects. If Warners were to enter both parts of the "Matrix" in this year's race, it theoretically could win two nominations in a given category, since both halves would have to be treated as individual films.

But that's far from a sure thing. In the tightly contested technical categories, voters could be expected to resist awarding two slots to the same group of filmmakers. In fact, earlier this year, individual branches of the Academy struggled with how to treat "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" after bestowing 13 nominations and four Oscars on "The Fellowship of the Ring" the previous year. The music branch ruled that Howard Shore, who won an Oscar for his score for the first film, didn't warrant consideration for a nomination for the second film. However, the movie did win the visual effects Oscar two years running.

Rather than see the votes within the individual branches divide between the two "Matrix" installments - and run the risk of canceling each other out - Warners has decided it may be wiser to promote the merits of "Revolutions" alone.

Miramax, which had informal conversations with Academy officials last week, is still formulating its strategy. But it was informed of the Academy's response to Warners' queries, which would similarly apply if "Vol. 2" were exhibited before the end of the year.

Even if Miramax does favor a second release by year's end, however, it may not prove practical. According to sources, Tarantino is currently concentrating on completing "Vol. 1" and has not yet turned his full attention to finalizing "Vol. 2."

"Once Quentin completes 'Vol. 2,' then we'll make any decisions regarding its release," said a Miramax spokesman.

Executives at Warner Bros. declined to comment on that studio's developing plans.

By Gregg Kilday


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VILLAGE ROADSHOW DOESN'T PAY DIVIDENDS
Source: <The Australian>
Thanks to: <TLFC>

The Matrix Reloaded has failed to save Village Roadshow from the wrath of angry institutions after the film-maker rolled over to payout demands last week. Village offered a $300 million buyback of its preference shares to stave off costly legal action.

The company had announced it would not pay dividends on its preference shares – the ones normally first in line for profits – and would keep that $25 million in the kitty to help finish The Matrix Reloaded. The film – starring Keanu Reeves as the confused but uber-cool Neo – got a critical kung-fu-ing but still managed to pour about $460 million into Village. A second sequel, Matrix Revolutions, is expected to contribute a similar amount in December as filmgoers troop back into cinemas in the hope of making sense of Reloaded's plot.

These profits weren't enough for the institutions that own most of the preference shares – especially when they realised the Matrix profits would be churned back into the $1.4 billion revolving credit facility Village has to finance its next 40 joint-venture films with Warner Bros.

"We, along with BT and Hunter Hall, threatened legal action, and we were going to carry out that threat," Investors' Mutual investment director Anton Tagliaferro says. "We wanted the dividends."

Village last week made an offer to buy out preference shareholders for $1.25 a share, up from 73c. The payout will be 25c up front, with a $1 unsecured note paying 10 per cent interest, which will be repaid over three years. It will cost the company about $300 million to buy the shares back.

"We'd issued the preference shares about 10 years ago when we were primarily an exhibition company with a fairly predictable, steady cash flow," Village managing director Graham Burke says. "We've now sold out of a lot of that, and the company has shifted to become much more a production company. "You get many more swings in cash flow than an exhibition company, and we found ourselves at odds with the wishes of the preference shareholders. "We've tried to arrive at an elegant solution."

Tagliaferro says the solution is "a sort of compromise". "We get $1.25 over three years, plus a 10 per cent yield, which is better than a preference share of 80c not paying any dividend. "The downside is that we lose all our equity exposure to Village, so if its shares go up, we won't get the capital growth.

"But it all depends on how you feel about Village's new direction of producing blockbusters. "We don't agree with it, so we'll be happy to exit." Burke says there is less risk in producing blockbusters, but Village will have to "pull its horns in" on growth forecasts because of the cost of the buyback.

Fat Prophets analyst Angus Geddes says Village is probably under-valued. "They're buying back preference shares, so they've obviously got a favourable view of the company's worth," Geddes says. "It's the Kirby family (Village's major shareholder) being opportunistic and buying shares back when they're depressed. "They (the Kirbys) certainly had a run of bad luck, but their strategy on film production has some merit. "They've decided to back blockbusters, and even though these cost more, they have a lower financial risk."


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METAPHILM RELOADED ANALYSIS
Source: <Metaphilm>

Metaphilm has re-decoded The Matrix Reloaded. Their analysis of the first Matrix was incredible and has won the author numerous speaking engagements and a book deal. The first analysis of the second film was less impressive, but now they added a second article by Tommy Viola subtitled "Propaganda and the Freedom to Believe". It's an interesting read and you should check it out. Of course it's not for those of you who haven't seen the movie yet, but I thought you figured that out. Here's a clip:

For those of you who haven’t read their original piece on The Matrix Reloaded, now may be the time to do so. To sum up, the Brothers contend that the second film in the trilogy betrays the messianic promise of the first, subverting the theme of transcendence and freedom from “the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth,” and replacing it with a worldview much more consistent with that of a cult—“another system of control,” as the Architect puts it.

What they mean here—and I hope I’m reading them right—is that not only is this switcheroo pulled within the plot of the film (Neo glumly telling Morpheus that he is not the One, Morpheus lamenting the end of his dream) but also inevitably in the eyes of we, the viewers. We find that by buying into the film we have entered not into a liberating kinship forged from Truth (“it will set you free” says Morpheus) and Love (as in the film-ending kisses of Trinity and Neo) but into yet another Matrix from which you can’t come out. We have joined a cult, as the Brothers so frankly put it. The only way out is resignation. Kansas does indeed go bye-bye, but we don’t arrive in Oz, we end up in Nebraska. The rabbit hole doesn’t go deep, it merely goes wide, and it leads only to a life with no purpose at all.

This view, according to the responses of several of you, the viewers at home, “is as bland and empty of content as they come,” “tenuously substantiated and misunderstood,” and was “written from the perspective of a jilted lover.” Dodge that.

For the complete article, click <here>.


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MATRIX REANIMATED: CONVENTION 2004
Source: <Matrixfans.net>

A huge Matrix fan e-mailed Matrixfans.net, asking to help spread the word about the first ever Matrix Convention, possibly to happen in the Summer of 2004.

The Matrix Convention would take place in McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA. For more information on the location for the convention, visit: <www.mccormickplace.com>. Matrixfans.net has opened a forum dedicated to talking about the possible convention for next summer.

The reason for it to be located in Chicago is because the Wachowski Brothers are from there. Plus, going to Chicago, there is a lot to do besides a convention. There is Shedd's Aquarium, The Museum of Science and Industry, and the Sears Tower.

So far, three companies are supporting the convention (Cadillac, Best Buy, and AbbyShot.com) and a graphics designer is helping design some things for the convention. Charlie came up with a name for it (it's not permanent yet):
"Matrix Reanimated". He called it that because by the time the convention comes, the hype for "The Matrix" will have died down and the convention will revive, or reanimate, the hype. Right now he's looking for companies that could sell things and more people to help him with various things.

Here are the things that he has come up with so for:

- It will be four days long (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
- The dates are July 15th-18th, 2004.
- The movie theater of McCormick Place would show a part of the Matrix each night (Thursday: "The Animatrix", Friday: "The Matrix", Saturday: "The Matrix Reloaded", and Sunday: "The Matrix Revolutions").
- A few rooms in McCormick Place will show anime and live-action movies inspired by and based off of "The Matrix" as well as fan movies.
- People can dress up like they were in the Matrix.
- Groups of people can become a crew of a ship.
- A room or two with video games in the vein of "The Matrix".
- Bands can come and play songs inspired by "The Matrix".
- There'd be a few rooms for discussions and debates about various Matrix philosophies and such.
- McCormick Place could be decorated with Matrix stuff.
- Matrix trivia games.
- "Scene Reinactment" and "Mimicking" contests.
- The Dating Game: Matrix-style.
- Martial Arts demonstrations.

A petition is running in order to persuade Warner Brothers to support the convention:

To: Warner Brothers Inc.
A Matrix Convention has been planned for the McCormick Center in Chicago, USA during the summer of 2004. The McCormick Center is one of North America's largest convention facilities and features over 2.2 million square feet of exhibit space. We have secured sponsors including Microsoft, Cadillac, Best Buy, and Hot Topic. We also plan on having events like autograph signings, screenings, speeches, and much more. However, all this will not be possible without the support of Warner Bros. At this moment, Warner Bros. has not agreed to support us. Their sponsorship is essential to make this event a reality.

This is the official petition that will be sent to Warner Brothers Production to persuade them to support the Matrix Convention in 2004. We want to show them that this has nationwide and global support from the fans. In a few weeks, the Convention Committee will send a letter to Warner Bros Inc. including a link to this petition. Thank you for your help!

Sign the petition <here>.
To discuss the Convention, go to the <Convention Forum>

Matrixfansite.com opinion:
Although it has some great ideas (like the discussions on the philosophy behind the Matrix, the martial arts demonstrations and bands playing matrix inspired music), a lot of the above crosses in my opinion the line of 'geek' territory and may prevent people from coming (especially the idea of a Matrix-style dating game; say what?). I doubt that you can run a serious discussion if the people next to you are dressed up like the Twins... But they still have a while to think things over. Good luck to you all! (- Code 808)


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PS2 EXCLUSIVE ONLINE MATRIX RPG?
Source: <IGN.com>

Rumours from IGN.com:

Exclusive Online Matrix RPG
It's no secret that there are three, yes three new Matrix games in the works -- two by Enter the Matrix developer Shiny, and an MMORPG from Ubi Soft. While small tidbits of info have been released on the online Ubi Soft title, the two Shiny games -- one scheduled for release in the fall of 2004, the other in 2006 -- have remained shrouded in mystery since the day we got light of them. Until now, that is.

Some of our super-secret ninja spies inside the Matrix have been awakened and have spilt a bean or two regarding one of the new Shiny sequels. If our sources are to be believed, one of the games will also be an MMORPG based on the movie license, not unlike the Ubi Soft Matrix title, though the two companies' titles are isolated, unrelated titles.

You want details, right? Well so do we, but unfortunately, they are few and far between. The only details we've been able to coerce our sources into revealing are that players will be able to take the roles of Zionites or Agents, there may possibly be even more exclusive movie footage thrown into the game, and the movie actors will provide voiceovers for their NPC counterparts. That would imply that none of your favorite Matrix badasses are player (similar to Star Wars Galaxies), but heck, we'll take an online Matrix RPG regardless if we play as Neo or Ned the Nerd.

Oh, and did we mention that the game is PS2-exclusive? Apparently, because of the rushed development of Enter the Matrix on all three platforms, Shiny would like to focus on one platform. This is to help ensure that a finished, bugless game will ship on time. But the reasons for PS2 exclusivity are twofold. Besides having a more polished game released on schedule, it seems that Sony is pushing developers to implement hard drive functionality into games because starting with the early 2004 release of Final Fantasy XI, Sony wants next year to be year that online console gaming truly breaches into mainstream market. And what better way to do that than by starting the year with a Final Fantasy MMO (Bang!) and ending it with a Matrix MMO (Boom!). Whoa.


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© 2003 Code 808